An Indian-American attorney known for her leadership role in the California Republican Party is hoping to have a seat at the national table in her bid to bring changes in how a presidential candidate is selected.
Harmeet Dhillon, vice-chair of the California Republican Party for three years now, told News India Times, her work in consolidating the party gives her the experience to move to the national level. She is campaigning to get the support of 1,600 delegates who will gather at the state party convention April 29 to May 1 in Burnlingame, California. She hopes they will put her over the top to become one of the 158 members of the Republican National Committee, as a “National Committeewoman.” If elected, she will be the first Indian-American to hold such a post.
The RNC has three representatives from each state and the 6 territories. At Burlingame, the Chairman, a National Committeeman and National Committeewoman from California will be elected to represent California at the RNC. It is a four-year term and some in that position have remained there for decades. Dhillon’s vice-chair term ends in March-April next year, and if elected National Committeewoman, she would start in that position after the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July.
“I believe we need some changes in how we select a presidential nominee,” Dhillon told News India Times, a problem evidenced this year, she added. The Republican Party is facing a virtual split in the face of rising popularity of billionaire businessman Donald Trump’s candidacy and strengthening frontrunner status as primaries proceed, and the as yet unsuccessful attempts by party moderates and traditional conservatives to stop him.
The top jobs of the RNC, Dhillon said, was to select a nominee, select a platform and operate the rules of the party. “While the RNC is not in trouble, it needs some changes,” Dhillon said, adding, “My ‘Number 2’ position in the largest state was the training for that,” job. Dhillon is running unopposed as the previous incumbent has decided to retire from the position at the end of her term in July.
Three years ago, when Dhillon took over as vice-chair along with California Republican Party Chair Jim Brulte, she says the party was going through hard times, with a financial deficit, a leadership in disarray, and several electoral losses. “We have turned it around,” she said – brought in the money, held training programs for aspiring leaders and candidates, and taken back some seats. “So the general consensus is there’s a night-and-day difference. People are coming back to the party,” Dhillon contended.
In a March 16 interview on CBS local news channel, Dhillon indicated that despite differences of opinion on the Donald Trump candidacy, she was glad more people would come to the polls. Number crunchers say Trump would have to win California to secure the party nomination. “A brokered convention is anathema to many people even if they don’t like Trump,” but that a hotly contested GOP primary was good news especially for Republican candidates in local races, Dhillon told San Jose Mercury News March 17. “I love it. We are very relevant to the national party from a donor point of view, but (otherwise) we’ve been kind of the ugly stepchild. … So I’m excited to see our state be relevant again.”
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